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Dr. Ira Mellman - the Incoming Director of the LICR
Considered to be the preeminent expert in the cell biological basis
of immunology, Dr. Mellman's research interests relate to the understanding
of membrane transport and cell morphogenesis as they apply to two
specific issues: cell polarity and antigen processing by dendritic
cells. Read more here.
Angiogenesis Program Meeting
A very productive meeting of the LICR Angiogenesis Program was held
at the New York Office on the 18th and 19th of September. The Angiogenesis
Program was developed (refer NewsLink June 30, 2003) to facilitate
a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of the cell processes
of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, and represents a concerted
effort to leverage and maximize resources to assist both laboratory
and development phases for potential therapies. Read more here.
Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase
Research in the LICR: The base of the PIRAMED
Given the central role of PI3K in the signal transduction of many
carcinogenic processes, the potential for PI3K inhibitors as a cancer
therapy has been obvious for some time. In 1995, Dr. Waterfield
(Director, London University College Branch), Dr. Peter Parker from
Cancer Research UK (CR UK, and formerly the Imperial Cancer Research
Fund, ICRF) began a collaboration with the Japanese pharmaceutical
company Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Japan), to synthesize
isotype-specific small molecule inhibitors of the PI3K family members.
The launch of PIRAMED Limited, a start-up company based on this
inhibitor development, was announced in London on July 9th 2003.
Read more here.
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Monoclonal
Antibody Opportunity
Two years ago, Dr Xin Lu, an LICR Member at the London St Mary’s
Branch met with Professor Bo-Quan Jin of the Fourth Military Medical
School (FMMU) in Xi’an, China to form a collaborative agreement
under which the FMMU produces monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for LICR
investigators. As of February 2003, just one year into the collaboration,
over 100 mAbs have been produced, or are in the Xi’an pipeline,
following requests from scientists in the London St Mary’s,
London UC, Melbourne, and New York Branches of the LICR. More here.
Antibody Program Meeting
A meeting of the LICR Antibody Program, the largest academic antibody
program in the world, was held in the New York Office on September
22, 2003. The scientists and clinicians coordinating each of the
seven principal components (see Figure) gathered to give progress
reports on the Program, a highly-integrated and truly global enterprise.
Very brief summaries of the reports are given herein. Read more
here.
Dr. Anne Ridley, Associate Branch Director of the London University
College Branch, & Dr. Steven Stacker, Associate Director - Scientific
Program of the Melbourne Branch.
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